Trousers-stretcher.



A. J. PETTERMAN.

TROUSERS STRETCHER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE'ZB. 1917- Patented July 9, 1918. 2 SHEETS--SHEET rn: uonms PETERS ca. rnnm-unm. WASNINGIOI. u c. 7

A. J. PETTERMAN.

TROUSERS STRETCHER.

APPLICATION man JUNE 28. 1911.

Patented July 9, 1918. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 .ni wwls Pr ras m Puma-1.1mm. wAsNmcmM. a. c.

srarns ALBERT J'. PETTERMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TROUSERS-S'IBETGHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 9, 1918.

7 Application filed June 28, 1917. Serial No. 177,434.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT J. PETTERMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and Stateof Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Trousers-Stretchers,

I of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and-exact description,'reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to trousers stretchers and its object is to provide a generally im-* proved and simplified device of inexpensive construction.

It is my purpose to provide a device which may readily be constructed of card board, or a similar material, which is of such character as to make its application to a pair of trousers readily, conveniently and effectively. As this description proceeds it will be seen that the purposes above outlined are realized and that a device which stretches and smooths the trousers efliciently is-provided. It will appear, furthermore, that the device of my invention is such that a pair of trousers may be readily packed in a trunk, suitcase or traveling bag in such a way that their smoothness will be preserved and in such a way that they will be ready for wear with good appearance, at any time.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 illustrates in perspective the device of my invention applied to a pair of trousers;

Fig. 2 illustrates the same in side elevation;

Fig. 3 illustrates the same in side elevation, the device, however, being folded, as will be described;

Fig. 1 illustrates in perspective a modified form of clamp which I propose; and

Fig. 5 illustrates a modified form of clip which I propose.

Referring first to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the main body of my device comprises 2 back boards 6, 6 which are disposed end to end and hinged together on the line 7 by means of the cloth hinge 8. Channel-like clips 9, 9 are provided for engagement upon the side edges of the back boards, as illustrated, being capable of disposition over the hinged member 8, at each end thereof, in order to prevent buckling of the two members of the back board, when it is desired to prevent such action, thus rigidly connecting the two parts of the back boards and securing in effect one continuous piece. On the other hand, when it is desired to buckle the back board on the hinged line, as will be pointed out presently, the clips 9, 9 may be moved over into the position shown in dotted line in Fig. 1, so asto permit such action.

At one end of the back board a flap 10 is hinged at one end to the side of the back board by means of a cloth hinge 11, and the free end of the flap is adapted to be held down by means of a metallic clip 12. At the other end of the back boards a clamp is provided, this clamp comprising the back piece 13 and the front piece 14, preferably hinged together at one end and adapted to receive the lower ends of the trousers legs therebetween, as illustrated. These two parts 13 and 14 are firmly held together by means of the clips 15, 15 similar to the clip 12. This clamp is independent of the back board 6 except in the manner now to be described. The under member of the clamp, that is the member 13, is provided with a rubber cord 16 which is suitably secured to the member 13 and which passes through openings 17, 17 near the end of the back board. This cord 16 is in the form of a loop and when thus passed through the openings 17 17 it is exposed on the back of the back board and there may be made to engage a button 18 secured to the back of the back board in any suitable manner.

It willnow be clear that the trousers may be placed under tension in either or both of two ways. In applying the device to a pair of trousers the trousers are so disposed on the back boards that the portion thereof at the top of the legs lies under the flap 10. The trousers must be inserted under the flap 10 in such a way that the lower ends of the trousers legs will fall in the right place, to be referred to presently, but this is very readily ascertained and practised. With the trousers thus disposed under the flap 10, the clip 12 is applied to hold them firmly in place at that point. Let it now be assumed that the parts 6, 6 are to remain rigidly associated, by the application of the clips 9, 9, in the position shown in full line in Fig. 1. The trousers legs then fall naturally upon the top of the back board 6 and the lower ends of the trousers legs are then inserted in the clamps comprising the parts 13 and 14 which have been described. The clips 15,

15 are then applied to the clamps 13 and 14: so that the lower ends of the trousers legs are then firmly lodged in the clamps. The elastic cord 16 is then drawn vigorously through the openings 17, 17 in such a way as to place the legs under tension, th clamps 13, 14 being movable and the other end of the trousers being held stationary. This laces the trousers under tension and in order to hold them in that position and condition the elastic cord 16 is drawn back onto the button 18 and left there, as illustrated. The length of the structure is such that it may easily be placed at the bottom of a tru" k or in a good sized suit-case.

The trousers may also be placed under tension by buckling the parts 6, 6 of the back boards upon each other, as illustrated in Fig. 8. This action is secured by moving the clips 9, 9 out of the way, as illustrated, and it will be clear that in view of the fact that a the trousers pass around the ends of the buckled boards they willbe placed under considerable tension. In such a circumstance it is not necessary to clamp the upper part of the trousers in such position as to place the cord 16 initially under tension, although that tension may be added to the tension secured by buckling the back boards, if desired. When thus folded, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the device may readily be placed in'a smaller suitcase or an ordinary travel ing-bag.

The parts 13 and 14 of'the clamps are preferably made of card-board. On the other hand, as illustrated in Fig. 4:, I also contemplate the use of a clamp of wire, this clamp being illustrated at 23 and being provided with eyelets 19, 19 for the reception of the elastic cord 16. The clamp includes the portion 20 which is adapted to be engaged under the hook 21 in order that the lower portions of the trousers legs may readily be secured therein.

Copies of this patent may be obtained. for

I also contemplate a modified form of clip, which I have illustrated in Fig. 5. This clip is made of wire, as lllustrated at 22, and may be substituted for the clip 12 or the clips- I claim as new and desire to. secure by Letters Patent:

1. In combination, a hinged body adapted to receive a garment, a clamping member adapted to secure one end of the garment to said body, clamping means adapted to engage the opposite end of the garment and adjustable flexible means connecting said clamping means to said body to vary the tension of the garment.

2. In combination a body formed in two hinged sections and adapted to receive a garment, means to prevent buckling of the sections, a stationary clamp at one end of one of the sections, a movable clamp on the other section, and adjustable flexible'means connecting said movable clamp to. said last mentioned section to stretch the garment.

3. In. combination, a hinged body adapted to receive a garment, a clamp on the free end of one of the sections of said body to engage the garment, a pair of plates to engagethe opposite end of the garment, spring gripping means to connect said plates, and means for moving said plates relative to the body to stretch the garment held thereby.

4L. In combination, a hinged bodyadapted to receive a garment, a hinged clamp on the freev end of one of the sections of said body to engage the garment, a pair of plates at the other end of said body, U-shaped clips to embracesaid plates and engage the same with the garment, and a flexible member connected to the plates and engaged with ALBERT J. PETTERMAN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, 20.0. 

